Stretcher device for producing artificial respiration



June 18, 1963 s. o. HINTZ 3,094,117

STRETCHER DEV-ICE FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION Filed Dec. 22, 1959 :1 L 1h 49 48 I2 5442 E 1 luvsw-rdz GERHARD 0- HI NTZ United States Patent 3,094,117 STRETCH-ER DEVICE FOR PRODUCING ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION Gerhard Otto Hintz, RR. 1, Drinkwater Road, Albemi, British Columbia, Canada Filed Dec. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 861,305 Claims. '(Cl. -12828) This invention relates to stretchers and in particular to a stretcher operable to induce artificial respiration in persons suffering from asphyxiation or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a stretcher which enables an unskilled person to apply artificial respiration and continue to do so .for long periods of time without fatigue.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stretcher device which is ot simple construction, which is easy to use and which provides an efiicient respiratory reaction from the patient.

A further object of the invention is to provide a light weight durable combination stretcher and respirator which is easily transportable and which may be operated expeditiously by one operator.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a stretcher which is operable to induce artificial respiration in a person laid thereon and which is not readily susceptible to improper operation by an operator.

1 Yet another object of the invention is to provide a stretcher which is operable to produce a close approximation to normal abdominal breathing in a patient laid thereon and which enables artificial respiration to be applied even while the patient is being loaded and transported to hospital or medical help.

In accordance with these general objects the invention provides a stretcher for use in artificial respiration comprising a support upon which a patient may be laid in prone position, said support having an aperture formed centrally thereof; a pair of support pads pivotally connected to said support for movement in a vertical plane through said aperture, one of said pads positioned so as to underlie the abdomen of a patient placed in prone position on said support and the other of said support pads positioned so as to underlie the pelvis of said patient; means interconnecting said support pads whereby movement of one of the pads simultaneously produces a corresponding and opposite movement of the other pad; and means operable to raise and lower said pads in alternation thereby to apply pressure alternately to said abdomen and said pelvis :to cause alternate exhalations and inhalations by the patient.

Other features of the invention will be described hereinafter and referred to in the appended claims. The invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings which show by way of example one embodiment of the invention and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, 7

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 22 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURES 3 and 4 are perspective views of the support pads.

The stretcher indicated generally at includes a pair of rigid frame members 12 and 14 which are secured together in spaced apart relationship by means of rigid braces 16 and 18 secured at each end to the frame members 12 and 14. Support legs 20 are connected to or integrally formed with the frame members although they may equally well be secured to or integrally formed with the rigid braces. Sheets 22 and 24 of suitable flexible material such as canvas or the like are stretched over the frame members 12 and 14 and secured thereto in spaced apart relationship. Support pads 26 and 28 are ICC pivotally connected to frame members 12 and 14 and arranged ior vertical movement within the opening 30 between sheets 22 and 24. The end portions of each frame member 12 and 14 are tapered as at 29 to provide convenient handgrips enabling the stretcher to be carried. The frame members 12 and 14, braces 16 and 18 and suppont legs 20 may be made of any suitable material such as wood, plastic or lightweight metal such as aluminum or light steel tubing.

The support pad 26 may be of any suitable shape and in the example shown consists of .a rigid rectangular base 27 made, for example, of plywood and attached to a cross-bar 29 provided with an axial bore 31. A pad 32 of resilient material such as foam rubber co-extensive in area with said base is laid over the top surface of the base 27 and secured thereto by means of a canvas or other suitable cover 34 which is placed around the pad and attached to the undersurface of the base.

Support pad 28 consists of a cross-bar 36 provided with an axial bore 37 and having a plurality of flexible strips 38 laid across the top thereof in spaced apart relationship. A pad 40 of resilient material such as foam rubber is positioned over the top of said. strips and is held in position by a cover 41 of suitable material, such as canvas, placed around the pad and secured to the undersurface of said strips.

Plates 42 and 44 are pivotally mounted on the frame members 12 and 14 respectively adjacent one end of the opening 30 and are joined together by means of a bar 43. A rod 46 is inserted in the axial bore 37 of bar 36 and is secured at either end to plates 42 and 44.

Links 48 and 50 are pivotally attached at 49 and 51 to frame members 12 and 14 respectively adjacent the other end of opening 30 .and are interconnected by the bar 45. A rod 52 is inserted in the axial bore 31 of bar 29 and is secured at either end to one end of links 48 and 50. The other end of each of links 48 and .50 is connected to corresponding ones of plates 42 and 44 by levers 54 and 56 respectively.

An operating handle 58 is secured to plate 42, the ar- I'a-ngement being such that movement of handle 58 is efiective to move plates 42 and 44 and thereby pad 28 in a vertical plane within opening 30 while simultaneously through levers 54 and 56 producing a though opposite movement of pad 26. The operating handle 58 may, if desired, be of telescopic construction and detachably connected to plate 42 in which case it may easily be removed when not required and secured to the frame by means of clips 62 and 64 provided for this purpose on the unde-rsurtace of frame member 12.

The support pads 28 and 26 may be locked in any otfa number of desired positions by means of an adjustment pin 66 mounted on the frame member 12 and longitudinally slidable into engagement with a selected one of a series of holes 68 for-med in the plate 42.

In use a patient is placed in prone position on the top of the stretcher with his hips straddling the support pad 26 and his abdomen above the flexible support pad 28. Thereafter by moving operating handle 58 in the direction of arrow 70 the support pad 28 is raised thereby applying pressure to the abdomen and diaphragm causing an expiration. The handle 58 is then moved in the opposite direction indicated by arrow 72 causing support pad 26 to be raised whilst support pad 28 is lowered. This is efiective to raise the patients hips while simultaneously the abdomen is caused to drop to a position below the stretcher, thereby causing an inhalation. In this manner therefore reciprocation of handle 58 is eflfective to move the support pads 28 and 26 simultaneously and in opposite directions thereby to cause alternate rhythmical expirations and inspirations by the patient. The support pads 28 and 26 are only moved through a small distance in the vertical direction and, consequently, the physical effort on the part of the operator in applying artificial respiration with this stretcher is very small indeed and the operator can therefore continue with his efforts for long periods without undue fatigue.

The stretcher according to this invention is also readily adapted for other uses. Thus, for example, when not required for use in artificial respiration the stretcher may be employed as a conventional stretcher by locking the support pads 26 and 28 by means of pin 66 in a horizontal position whereat they are in substantial alignment with the top of the stretcher. In other cases where, for example, it is desired to transport a person suffering from a back injury the support pad 28 may be raised a desired amount to form a padding under the spine of the patient who is laid face uppermost on the stretcher, the support pad 28 being locked in this position by means of the pin 66. The patient can then be transported to hospital or medical care with a minimum of discomfort and a degree of support for the injury incurred.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A stretcher for use in artificial respiration comprising a support upon which a patient may be laid in prone position, said support consisting of a pair of laterally spaced frame members interconnected by means of a pair of spaced apart transversely extending flexible elements adapted to support said patient; a pair of support pads pivotally connected to said support for movement in a vertical plane between said flexible elements, one of said pads being mounted on a rigid backing member and positioned so as to underlie the pelvis of said patient and the other of said pads being mounted on a flexible backing member and positioned so as to underlie the abdomen of said patient; means for locking said support pads in a preselected position; means interconnecting said pads whereby movement of one of the pads simultaneously produces a corresponding and opposite movement of the other pad; and means operable to raise and lower said pads in alternation thereby to apply pressure alternately to said abdomen and said pelvis to cause alternate expirations and inspirations by the patient.

2. A stretcher for use in artificial respiration comprising a support upon which a patient may be laid in prone position, said support consisting of a pair of laterally spaced side frame members interconnected by means of a pair of spaced apart transversely extending flexible elements, each of said frame members having vertically extending support legs connected thereto and depending therefrom; support pads pivotally connected to said frame members for movement in a vertical plane through the space between said flexible elements; means for locking said support pads in a preselected position; means interconnecting said pads whereby movement of one of the pads simultaneously produces a corresponding and opposite movement of the other pad; and means coupled to one of said pads and operable to raise and lower said pads in alternation thereby to apply pressure alternately to said abdomen and said pelvis to cause alternate exhalations and inhalations by the patient.

3. A stretcher for use in artificial respiration comprising a support upon which a patient may be laid in prone position, said support consisting of a pair of rigid frame members secured together in spaced apart relationship and interconnected by a pair of transversely extending flexible elements, said resilient elements forming a support for said patient; support pads pivotally secured to said frame members for movement in a vertical plane through the space between said resilient elements; means interconnecting said pads whereby movement of one of the pads simultaneously produces a corresponding and opposite movement of the other pad; a pin mounted on one of said frame members and axially slidable relative thereto and engageable with one of said pads to lock said pads in a preselected position; and means coupled to one of said pads and operable to raise and lower said pads in alternation thereby to apply pressure alternately to said abdomen and said pelvis to cause alternate expirations and inspirations by the patient.

4. A stretcher for use in artificial respiration comp-rising a support upon which a patient may be laid in prone position, said support consisting of a pair of laterally spaced frame members interconnected by means of a pair of spaced-apart transversel extending flexible elements; a pair of support pads pivotally secured to said support for movement in a vertical plane through the space between said resilient elements, one of said support pads positioned so as to underlie the abdomen of said patient and the other of said support pads located in a position to underlie the pelvis of said patient; means for locking said support pads in a preselected position; means interconnecting said pads whereby movement of one of the pads simultaneously produces a corresponding and opposite movement of the other pad; and a handle removably coupled to one of said support pads and operable to raise and lower said pads in alternation thereby to apply pressure alternately to said abdomen and said pelvis to cause alternate exhalations and inhalations by the patient.

5. A stretcher for use in artificial respiration comprising a support upon which a patient may be laid in prone position, said support having an aperture formed centrally thereof; a pair of support pads pivotally secured to said support for movement in a vertical plane through said aperture, one of said support pads positioned so as to underlie the abdomen of said patient, and the other of said support pads positioned so as to underlie the pelvis of said patient; a pin mounted on said support and axially slidable with respect thereto and engageable with one of said pads to lock both said pads in a preselected position; means interconnecting said pads whereby movement of one of the pads simultaneously produces a corresponding and opposite movement of the other pad; and a handle removable coupled to one of said support pads and operable to raise and lower said pads in alternation thereby to apply pressure alternately to said abdomen and said pelvis to cause alternate expirations and inspirations by the patient.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,643,793 Sparhawk Sept. 27, 1927 2,445,158 Sparhawk July 13, 1948 2,637,318 Emerson May 5, 1953 2,790,440 Adair Apr. 30, 1957 

1. A STRETCHER FOR USE IN ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION COMPRISING A SUPPORT UPON WHICH A PATIENT MAY BE LAID IN PRONE POSITION, SAID SUPPORT CONSISTING OF A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED FRAME MEMBERS INTERCONNECTED BY MEANS OF A PAIR OF SPACED APART TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS ADAPTED TO SUPPORT SAID PATIENT; A PAIR OF SUPPORT PADS PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT IN A VERTICAL PLANE BETWEEN SAID FLEXIBLE ELEMENTS, ONE OF SAID PADS BEING MOUNTED ON A RIGID BACKING MEMBER AND POSITIONED SO AS TO UNDERLIE THE PELVIS OF SAID PATIENT AND THE OTHER OF SAID PADS BEING MOUNTED ON A FLEXIBLE BACKING MEMBER AND POSITIONED SO AS TO UNDERLIE THE ABDOMEN OF SAID PATIENT; MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID SUPPORT PADS IN A PRESELECTED POSITION; MEANS INTERCONNECTING SAID PADS WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF ONE OF THE PADS SIMULTANEOUSLY PRODUCES A CORRESPONDING AND OPPOSITE MOVEMENT OF THE OTHER PAD; AND MEANS OPERABLE TO RAISE AND LOWER SAID PADS IN ALTERNATION THEREBY TO APPLY PRESSURE ALTERNATELY TO SAID ABDOMEN AND SAID PELVIS TO CAUSE ALTERNATE EXPIRATIONS AND INSPIRATIONS BY THE PATIENT. 